(RE: “Group Health vs. drugs, sex and alcohol | Federal Way letters”):

To publish this letter slamming Group Health is unfair at best.

If this young lady actually did a little research before firing off such a critical letter (and wholly undeserved), she would have learned that the policies governing privacy in health care for teens is under HIPAA government policy (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act)

Group Health does not make these decisions, but is simply following the requirements under federal law. She will find these policies in effect at any health care organization or private practice provider. Her anger is misplaced and your publication should really have inserted a disclaimer and provided a link to HIPAA policies.

Kim Nichols, Snohomish